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Caricature of Major-General Charles Lee. 

From a drawing by Kosciusko. 

Original in the " Peters Collection," Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



EXCHANGE 



OF 



MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES LEE. 



FROM A MANUSCRIPT OF ELIAS BOUDINOT. 



"WITH NOTES BY 

WILLIAM S. BAKER. 



reprinted from 
The Pennsylvania Magazine op History and Biography. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

FEINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 

1891. 



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Fifty copies only jirinted. 
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PREFATORY NOTE. 



The following story of the exchange of Charles Lee, major-general 
in the Continental army, who was taken prisoner by the British on the 
13th of December, 1776, at the village of Basking Ridge, Somerset 
County, New Jersey, is taken from a manuscript volume entitled " A 
Magazine for Miscellaneous Pieces and Publications collected and pre- 
served by Elias Boudinot." The exchange of General Lee for Major- 
General Richard Prescott of the British army, April 21, 1778, was arranged 
by Mr. Boudinot, the author of the story, when commissary-general of 
prisoners, his selection by the commander-in-chief for the office being 
related by himself: " In the spring of 1777, General Washington wrote me 
a Letter [dated Morristown, 1 April, 1777], requesting me to accept of a 
Commission as Commissary-General of Prisoners in the Army of America. 
I waited on him and politely declined the Task, urging the wants of the 
Prisoners & having nothing to supply them. He very kindly objected to 
the conduct of Gentlemen of the Country refusing to join him in his Ar- 
duous Struggle. That he had nothing in View but the Salvation of his 
Country, but it was impossible for him to accomplish it alone : that if men 
of Character & influence would not come forward & join him in his Ex- 
ertions, all would be lost. Affected by this address, and Supposing that 
I could be of some Service to the Prisoners, and at the same time have 
an Eye on the military Power, & prevent its Incroachments on the Civil 
authority, I consented to accept the Commission, on the General's as- 
surance that I should be supplied by the secret Committee of Congress 
with hard money for the relief of Prisoners, and that I should only be 
subject to his orders, in the Conduct of my department." The story of 
the exchange, entirely in the handwriting of Mr. Boudinot, contains 
some new and interesting incidents ; the interview Avith General Lee at 
New York, in January, 1778, revealing as it does the peculiarities of 
that officer's mental organization, very far removed, indeed, from the 
sterling balance of his chief, whom he considered "not fit to command a 



4 Prefatory Note. 

sergeant's guard," beiug especially noteworthy. Although we have con- 
clusive evidence that while in the hands of the enemy Lee indulged in 
both traitorous thoughts and actions, yet the perusal of the Boudinot nar- 
rative would indicate that he was rather tbe slave of an unbalanced mind 
and a jealous disposition than a deliberate traitor. From the time of his 
appointment as major-general, great reliance had been placed on his mil- 
itary knowledge and capacity, which were constantly and everywhere 
overrated, and the commander-in-chief himself, in the modest estimate 
of his own abilities, was not behind others in this delusion. This of 
course soon became apparent to Lee, and such an idea having once en- 
tered his mind would naturally increase, and finally overpower all sense 
and reason, ending in the belief that he alone was the man for the occa- 
sion. During General Lee's detention as a prisoner, Washington was 
extremely desirous for his exchange, deeming his services to be of the 
utmost importance, and his faith in his ability and usefulness never 
seemed to waver. A striking evidence of this was exhibited just before 
the battle of Monmouth Court-House, when, after having given the com- 
mand of the advance to Lafayette, he on the following day transferred 
it to Lee, who, being strongly opposed to attacking the enemy, had at 
first refused to lead it. It is much to the credit of the brave young 
Frenchman, however, that he cheerfully complied with the wishes of the 
commander. General Lee was of considerable service in the early part 
of the war, both in New York City and in the Southern department, but 
from the time he rejoined the main army at Harlem Heights (October, 
1776) the demons of jealousy, pride, and unrest seem to have possessed 
him, and death alone ended the struggle. Elias Boudinot, LL.D., so 
closely connected with the story, was born at Philadelphia, of French 
ancestry, May 2, 1740. After studying law under Richard Stockton, he 
settled at Elizabethtown, New Jersey, became eminent in his profession, 
and was an early advocate of independence. Mr. Boudinot was com- 
missary-general of prisoners, 1777-78 ; member of Congress, 1778, '79 and 
1781-84, and president in 1782. He was also a member of Congress 1789- 
95, and in October, 1795, was appointed director of the United States 
Mint, which office he resigned in 1805. He was the author of several 
publications, and was widely known as a philanthropist. Dr. Boudinot 
died at Burlington, New Jersey, October 24, 1821. 

W. S. B. 



EXCHANGE 

OF 

MAJOR-GENERAL CHARLES LEE. 



In Dec' 1776, Gen^ Lee being taken Prisoner at his Quar- 
ters at Baskinriclge in the County of Somerset (New Jersey) 
about four miles to the left of his Troops, towards the 
Enemy, by his own extreme negligence & folly, was re- 
moved (after the british Cantonments were beaten up at 
Trenton & Princeton) to New York & confined to a hand- 
some House, under the Care of 4 or 5 field officers, who 
lived with him & kept a genteel Table.^ In this situation 
he sent to congress, requesting a Committee of their Body, 
might be sent over to him, as he had something of conse- 
quence to communicate to them, and for the purpose, sent 
Gen^ Howe's safe Conduct, for their Security. This Con- 
gress very justly refused & treated the application with de- 
served Contempt. In January 1778, I was sent by Gen^ 
Washington over to New York (with consent of Gen^ Howe) 
to examine into the actual Situation of our Prisoners, and 
had orders to pay particular attention to Gen' Lee, and ac- 
complish his Exchange if possible. 

The Morning after my Arrival, I waited on Gen' Lee who 

^ " General Lee was transferred from New Brunswick to New York on 
the 13th of January, 1777, and was confined in the City Hall, in rooms 
fitted up for the purpose. On June 7 he was placed for a time on board 
the * Centurion' man-of-war, and ou the 25th of December was released 
on parole, to the full liberty of the city and its limits, when he took up 
his quarters with two of his oldest and warmest friends in the British 
service." — Moore's Treason of Charles Lee, 

5 



6 Exchange of Major-Gefneral Charles Lee. 

received me with very great pleasure indeed, and asked me 
to breakfast with him the next day. This I did in Company 
with the officers who had the Care of liim, and was treated 
with great politeness & affiibility. When Breakfast was 
over, Gen^ Lee asked me up into his Room. He soon began 
to complain very heavily of the treatment he had rec"* from 
Congress, in not complying with his request. I told him 
that I thought they had done perfectly right, not to trust 
any of their members within the British Lines, on such an 
Errand. He replied that he had obtained a safe passport 
for them from Gen^ Howe, and they might have come with 
the utmost safety. I then asked him what end would have 
been answered by their coming. Sir said he, I had dis- 
covered the whole plan of the summer's Campaign on the 
part of the British, and would have disclosed the whole to 
that Committee, by which Congress might have obviated 
all their Measures, for Mr. Boudinot it is in vain for Con- 
gress to expect to withstand british Troops in the Field. I 
answered that he must now be convinced, that without hia 
Information, they had been withstood and that the Cam- 
paign had passed over, and the Enemy had gained no great 
advantage with all their force & strength. But (I continued) 
General will you answer me explicitly, did you inform Gen- 
eral Howe, that this was your design, he answered by no 
means ! Then Gen^ said I do tell me what reasons did you 
assign to General Howe for so extraordinary a Measure, as 
sending for three members of Congress to be permitted, to 
enter a garrisoned Town & to confer with their own Gen- 
eral a Prisoner of War. To this he would give me no an- 
swer. But immediately began to urge the Improbability of 
our Troops under such an ignorant Commander in Chief, 
ever withstanding British Grenadiers & Light Infantry, and 
immediately put his hand into his Pockett & pulled out a 
manuscript of 2 or 3 sheets, and said he charged it on me 
to hearken to what he would read to me, and as soon as I 
returned to Jersey, that I would repair to Congress & not 
leave them till I had prevailed upon them to adopt his Plan. 
He then read his manuscript, which was a laboured Argu- 



Exchange of Major- General Charles Lee. 7 

ment to prove the impossibility of making head against the 
british army, and that therefore we should set it down as 
certain, that in the next Campaign, we must be compleatly 
defeated. He therefore urged, that Congress would immedi- 
ately have a strong fortress built at Pittsburgh, and also 
several hundred Boats. That they would order all the 
Riches of the Country to be sent there, with the old Men, 
Women and Children, and that when they found themselves 
driven there, that Congress &c &c might take Boat & go 
down the Ohio to the Spanish Territory for protection.^ 

The whole of this plan struck me in so absurd a light, 
added to the impropriety of reading such a thing to me who 
he knew was on my parole of Honor, within an Enemy's 
Lines, (for altho it had not been formally required, yet I 
considered myself, more firmly bound, if possible, than if 
it had been expressly given) that I could not but entertain 
the greatest Jealousy of the Integrity of Gen^ Lee. I an- 
swered without hesitation that I could not take any such 
Message to Congress from him, or any other, without the 
knowledge of the british general. That I thought he had 
been very wrong to attempt any such Communication to me 
knowing my situation, and that I should consider myself 
as having not heard it. That I wondered at his imprudence, 
in keeping such a Writing in his pockett, as the discovery 

^ General Lee was a man of plans and devices, and it seems to have 
been a matter of very little moment, provided be could secure a bearing, 
wbetber be exerted bis talents for America or its enemies. Besides tbe 
Pittsburgb plan, wbicb, if not brilliant, is certainly cbaracteristic, be was 
the author of several others. At New York, in March, 1777, be drew up 
a plan of campaign for tbe enemy which was partly adopted, and, accord- 
ing to Boudinot, was anxious to disclose the secrets be had obtained, 
wbicb would have thwarted it ; at Yorktown, in April, 1778, when a pris- 
oner on parole, pledged on his " faith and sacred honor not to say nor do 
anything contrary to tbe interest of bis majesty or bis government," he 
submitted to Congress " A plan of an army and thoughts on tbe mode of 
conducting operations for tbe campaign ;" and at Valley Forge, after re- 
joining the army, he laid before tbe commander-in-chief (June 15) a plan 
of tbe probable campaign of the enemy. All of these plans may have 
possessed more or less merit, but probably Lee's reputation as a strategist 
will rest upon tbe Pittsburgh plan rather than on any of the others. 



8 Exchange of 3Iajor-General Charles Lee. 

of it in his Pockett & in his hand writing might cost him 
his life. He then waived the business & I left him. 

I endeavoured to negotiate his Exchange, and it was 
agreed (hypothetically) that it should take place for Major 
General Prescott, subject to Gen^ Howe's approbation. 
Gen^ Howe objected, and ordered Gen' Lee round by 
sea to Philadelphia, that he might be exchanged under his 
own eye. Gen' Lee (abhorring the sea) applied to me 
by Letter and most earnestly requested that he might be 
permitted to go thro l!^ew Jersej^ under the care of a 
british officer, to which Gen' Washington consented, and 
he accordingly went to Philadelphia, but no consent was 
obtained to the Exchange.' 

In the spring of 1778, a proposition was made by both 
parties for a partial Exchange of Prisoners, and I was 
ordered to German Town to meet the british Commissary 
[Joshua Loring], to attempt the business. When I was 
setting off from Camp, Gen' Washington called me into his 
Room and in the most earnest manner entreated of me, if I 
wished to gratify him, that I would obtain the Exchange of 
Gen' Lee, for he never was more wanted by him, than at the 
present moment, and desired that I would not suffer trifles 
to prevent it. I accordingly went, and made a pretty con- 
siderable Exchange of Prisoners, but quite new propositions 
were made for the Exchange of Gen' Lee, which neither the 
General or myself had ever thought of. After reducing 
the Terms to as favourable a scale as I thought right, I 
agreed to it, on condition, that if General Washington was 
not pleased with the new plan, and notice was given of 
his refusal within 24 Hours, the Exchange was to be void, 
without any charge of failure on my part. 

I arrived at head Quarters about 6 o'clock P.M. [April 22] 
and going into the General began to tell him of my success, 
when he interrupted me with much Eagerness, and asked 

^ General Lee arrived at Philadelphia March 25, 1778. His parole was 
enlarged on the 5th of April, and a few days after he visited Congress, 
then sitting at Yorktown, Pennsylvania. His exchange was arranged 
while he was at Yorktown. 



Exchange of Major- General Charles Lee. 9 

me if I had exchanged Gen' Lee. I informed him of what 
had been done ; he replied sit down at this Table, and write 
a letter informing of my Confirmation of the Exchange and 
send one of my Horse guards immediately to the Enemies 
Lines with it. I assured him that next day would be time 
enough, but he insisted on its being immediately done, and 
I sent him accordingly, fixing the next day but one for 
Gen' Lee's coming out to us [at Valley Forge].^ 

When the day arrived, the greatest preparations were 
made for his reception. All the principal Oflacers of the 
Army were drawn up in two lines, advanced of the Camp 
about 2 miles towards the Enemy. Then the Troops with 
the inferior oflicers formed a line quite to head Quarters- 
all the music of the Army attended. The General with a 
great number of principal Officers and their Suites, rode 
about four miles on the road towards Philadelphia, and waited 
till Gen' Lee appeared. General Washington dismounted 
& rec''. Gen' Lee as if he had been his Brother. He passed 
thro the Lines of officers & the Army, who all paid him the 
highest military Honors to Head Quarters, where M" 
Washington was, and here he was entertained with an ele- 
gant Dinner, and the Music playing the whole Time. A 
Room was assigned him back of M" Washington's sitting 
room, and all his baggage was stowed in it. The next 
morning he lay very late, and Breakfast was detained for 
him.2 When he came out, he looked as dirty as if he had 

1 "Valley Forge, 22 April, 1778.— M' Boudinot, at Commissary Lor- 
ing's request, met him at Germantown yesterday ; from whence he is just 
returned, after having agreed on a final exchange of yourself and other 
officers, with that gentleman. That delay may not produce danger, I 
shall send in a flag tomorrow for your parole ; and, when obtained, I 
shall most cordially and sincerely congratulate you on your restoration 
to your country and to the army."— Washington to Lee. 

* From the text it would seem that General Lee arrived at Valley 
Forge on April 24, three days after his exchange ; but, under date of the 
28th, he wrote to Washington, in reply to his letter of the 22d, as fol- 
lows': " By three doses of what Lord Chatham calls the great American 
Panacea, I find myself so much better [of an attack of the gout] and 
the indications so much weaker that I hope to set out tomorrow or the 



10 Exchange of Major- General Charies Lee. 

lain in the street all night — soon after I discovered that he 
had brought a miserable dirty Huzzy with him from Phila- 
delphia (a british Sergeant's wife) and had actually taken 
her into his Room by a back door, and she had slept with 
him that night. 

Gen^ Washington gave him the Command of the right 
wing of the Army, but before he took Charge of it, he re- 
quested leave to go to Congress at York Town, which was 
readily granted. 

Before he went I had an interview with him. He ex- 
pressed himself under the greatest obligations to me, and 
assured me that he never should forget my kindness, but 
wished exceeding to know if I had made his Communica- 
tion to Congress & what was their opinion of it. I assured 
him that I had not, and if he was wise, he would say noth- 
ing upon the subject. He said he was going to Congress 
for that purpose and he never would rest till it was done, 
as he was now more than ever convinced that nothing else 
could save us — That he found the Army in a worse situation 
than he expected, and that General "Washington was not fit 
to command a Sergeant's Guard. 

My Jealousy of him was greatly confirmed, and I began 
to interrogate him, about his reception at Philadelphia, and 
immediately brought about the question, whether he had 
seen Gen* Howe. He told me that he had been closeted 
by him the Evening but one before he left the City. I 
urged him to tell me the substance of the Conversation that 
passed between them. He told me that Gen' Howe began 
to talk upon the claim of Independence by the Americans, 
that he thought it one of the most absurd & hopeless Ex- 
pectations that could enter into the mind of sensible men — 
and as for you Lee, says he, what in the Devil could get 
into you to be so crazy who ought to know better. Lee 
answered that he thought it a very wise measure and that 
if it had not been done, the Americans would have been 

next day at furthest — but you may be assur'd that I will not defer my 
departure a single moment." The arrival and reception, as recorded by 
Mr. Boudinot, could not therefore have taken place until after April 28. 



Exchange of Major- General Charles Lee. 11 

without Excuse. The General replied, why what end can 
it answer? do you think there is the most distant proh- 
ability of their succeeding ? To which Gen^ Lee replied, 
they were perfectly right— In case of a treaty what have 
they to give up, for what they may insist on receiving, had 
they made no claim to Independence. Sir said the 
General, if that is all they mean by it, it may be proper 
enough, but I supposed they aimed at insisting on a separa- 
tion from the Mother Country, but in this view it may be 
well enough. And so he said they parted, but General 
Howe sent him a store of Wine, Spirits, Porter &c. &c. to 
take out with him,— but the british soldiers finding out, 
that it was stored in the cellar of the House where he 
lodged, broke into it the night before he came away & stole 
the whole of it. All this increased my suspicions of Gen^ 
Lee exceedingly, and I watched him with a Jealous Eye. 

He went to Congress, and as I was afterwards informed, 
he apphed to Congress for a Committee to meet & confer 
with him. The President M' Laurens was directed to this 
service, to whom Gen^ Lee communicated his Plan, which 
disgusted M"^ Laurens so greatly that he would not even 
report it to Congress. This lessened the General so greatly 
in the Eyes of Congress, that they never paid much respect 
to him afterwards. 

He returned to the Army [May 20] & took command of the 
right wing. He immediately began to cabal against Gen^ 
Washington & to quarrell with the Marquis La Fayette. He 
assured me himself, that Gen^ Washington was ruining the 
whole Cause, that he was looking forward to the British 
evacuating Philadelphia & going to New York, and of 
course strengthening his left, while the right was totally 
unguarded; but Lee said that the Enemy would pass over 
to Chester & come suddenly on their right wing, and we 
should be wholly overthrown. He said he had urged this 
in Council, but that he had been overruled & therefore was 
no longer accountable. 

When the british Army actually passed thro' Jersey & 
Gen^ Washington by his great precaution, had advanced 



c/u 



1 2 Exchange of Major- Geno'al Charles Lee. 

two Brigades towards the Delaware, and therefore overtook 
the British at freehold, Gen^ Lee was greatly mortified & 
at first refused to take the Command of the advanced party 
& it was given to the Marquis La Fayette, but on finding 
that the advanced army was reinforced & raised to a very 
respectable Command, he insisted on the Command ; and to 
keep Peace it was given to him. 

Gen^ Lee accordingly came up with Gen^ Clinton near 
freehold Court House, and a skirmish took place. Gen^ 
Lee had considerable military knowledge & did very well 
on a small scale — but I have no doubt that whenever any- 
thing on a very large scale struck him, that a partial Lunacy 
took place. 

His Behaviour this Morning [June 28, 1778] discovered 
this state of mind, which might have been increased from 
the peculiarity of his situation, and his exalted Ideas of the 
prowess of british Troops. In the midst of the Engage- 
ment, he rode up to a L* Coll. of my acquaintance who had 
a single field piece firing and called to him, " Coll. have 
you seen any thing improper in my Conduct this morning ?" 
the Coll. (who had been conscious of something wrong in 
the Gen^ all the morning, yet not choosing to acknowledge 
it) answered, no by no means — well then said the General, do 
you remember that. Such an Extraordinary Question from 
a Commander in Chief of a division, under such Extraor- 
dinary Circumstances, is full proof that he must have felt 
something unusual in himself. 

The Issue was that he was beat, and had not Gen^ "Wash- 
ington have come up in a lucky moment & turned the for- 
tune of the day, it might have been fatal to America. 



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